BASEBALL; Matsui Asks to Move To Second Sooner Rather Than Later

By DAVE CALDWELL

Published: September 17, 2004

Not only does Kazuo Matsui want to move from shortstop to second base, but he is eager to try his new position before the Mets' tortured season ends.

Art Howe, in his final two weeks as the Mets' manager, said yesterday that Matsui, a bust as a shortstop this season, asked him this week if he could play second base when he is healthy.

''For his own well-being -- just to get a feel for it,'' Howe said before the Mets outlasted the Atlanta Braves, 9-4, at Shea Stadium last night.

The season has dissolved into an all-request marathon. Todd Zeile, who plans to retire after the season, will be Tom Glavine's catcher tonight in Pittsburgh.

Zeile began his career as a catcher and has not caught a big-league game since Sept. 1, 1990. He wanted to play the position one final time before he quit.

''He's pitched since then,'' Howe said, referring to Zeile's mop-up appearance on July 26 at Montreal in which he allowed five runs in one inning.

Matsui's request has grander implications. The Mets envisioned Matsui as a long-term shortstop and Jos?eyes, who came up as a shortstop, as their second baseman, but the team has since flip-flopped.

Matsui has been on the disabled list since Aug. 9 with a strained lower back, and he said yesterday that he had no idea if he would be able to play again this season.

''It's not anything we feel is going to happen in the next week or two,'' General Manager Jim Duquette said.

But the Mets have 15 games left over 17 days, including a season-ending three-game series Oct. 1 to 3 at Shea Stadium against Montreal.

''I'm actually curious to see it this year,'' Duquette said of Matsui's trying second base.

Matsui continued to take ground balls at second base before last night's game. The idea is for him to get a head start on the 2005 season.

''I feel like I'm on the first two or three steps still,'' Matsui said through an interpreter about his skills as a second baseman.

Howe said Matsui would probably play second base only in the last week of the season, and only for one or two games.

But Matsui's willingness -- if not eagerness -- to switch positions with Reyes seems to be a radical change from his reluctance to play a position other than shortstop.

During an interview Wednesday in which he discussed Howe's dismissal, Fred Wilpon, the Mets' owner, said the switch was a done deal.

''Next year, Matsui is going to play second base, and Reyes is going to play shortstop,'' Wilpon said.

Then, referring to Matsui, Wilpon added, ''He's fine with that.''

Although Matsui made 23 errors at short, a team-high total by a wide margin, the Mets promised him they would not move him in his first major-league season.

''We would not force an issue,'' Wilpon said.

So he continued to struggle, even though the Mets knew that Matsui and the team would probably be better off if he played second base.

''When you give your word on something, that's the most important thing,'' Howe said. ''You're only as good as your word. When you go back on it, forget it.''

The Mets' public stance began to change after Matsui and Reyes, who has a stress fracture in his left leg, were injured within three days of each other last month.

The Mets said late last month that Matsui would begin to take ground balls at second base when he was able to rejoin the team for batting practice.

''His throwing arm is probably more suited for second base,'' Howe said, ''and his throwing actions are probably more suited for second base. As long as he learns the footwork, he's well suited for the position.''

The Mets are worried about the perils facing any second baseman, let alone one playing the position for the first time.

Joe McEwing broke his left leg while trying to make a double play as a second baseman Aug. 19 against Colorado and was lost for the season.

''We've been reluctant to do that because of that transition,'' Duquette said of shifting Matsui. ''We had an established second baseman get injured.''

But Matsui, who turns 29 on Oct. 25, said he was already aware of the risks and was not particularly concerned about getting hurt while playing another position. ''Injuries come with the game,'' he said.

INSIDE PITCH

Richard Hidalgo and Todd Zeile hit back-to-back home runs as the Mets scored seven runs in the first inning last night, a season high.

Photo: Richard Hidalgo hit a three-run homer in the first inning at Shea. (Photo by John Dunn for The New York Times)